Chapter 2013 : Don't Look Back

Chapter 2014 Don't Look Back (5,000 Words) After this thought emerged in his heart, Eldrin did not immediately leave seclusion.

Since the other party had yet to make a move, Eldrin saw no need to rush. Now that he had ascended to the realm of a Chaos Origin Emperor, it was the perfect opportunity to elevate the Abyssal Seal into a 20-4-mark supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure.

Without hesitation, Eldrin expelled streams of innate indestructible spiritual light, allowing them to merge completely into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

After integrating over 1 100 strands of innate indestructible spiritual light in succession, the 12 treasures comprising the Abyssal Seal each transformed into 20-4 supreme-grade innate spiritual treasures.

After completing this step of advancement, the power of the Guixu Seal surged by more than double, reaching a level roughly comparable to that of a 4-mark Innate Chaos Treasure embryo.

"Almost there."

Having completed the advancement of the Void-Returning Seal, Eldrin finally drew a deep breath.

After this breakthrough, it was unlikely his cultivation and strength would progress much further in the short term.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped out of the Chaos Heaven.

Eldrin looked up and saw over 30 Divine Emperor figures tearing through the void. Among them were familiar faces like the Great Azure Divine Emperor.

From the Void Sky came a cold, mocking laugh.

This stirred a faint sense of warmth in Eldrin's heart, deepening his feeling of belonging.

Pure Yang Great Emperor, Ancient Thunder Crow Great Emperor, Vermilion Bird Great Emperor, Azure Dragon Great Emperor, Golden-Winged Roc Great Emperor...

Seeing this, the Human Emperors also extended their assistance without hesitation.

"10 Demon Sovereigns have emerged together. You truly honor me with such esteemed regard."

"Since you've abandoned all pretense of face by making your move, then let's dispense with empty words and battle directly."

At that very moment, a voice echoed from the Empyrean Void.

For he wielded the Primordial Chaos Treasure ‘Dongxu Emperor Sword’, ranked second among the 10 Divine Swords of the 3 1000 Immortal Domains—a peerless weapon of slaughter surpassed only by the Chaos Numinous Treasure, the Taiyuan Sword.

But within the vast expanse of heaven and earth, over a 100 Demon Emperor(Position Title) stood towering at the edge of the horizon, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

"Esteemed fellow Daoists of the human race, we have come to lend our aid."

Eldrin (Person Name) looked up and saw a snow-robed figure strolling toward him.

The Great Emperor of the Primordial Thunder Abyss, clad in thunder-forged armor and astride the primordial Kui Bull, gazed serenely at Eldrin as he declared, "By decree of the Celestial Emperor, I have come to apprehend the Daoist of the Returning Abyss."

Among the 5 Human Sovereigns, only Sword Emperor Dongxu and Emperor Heiyuan possessed Innate Supreme Treasures, making them significantly more powerful than the other 3 sovereigns.

A thought stirred in Eldrin's heart as he recognized the origin of this person.

Western Pole Cavern Void Sword Emperor.

The Black Abyss Emperor shielded Eldrin behind him, his expression icy as he spoke coldly, "Do you truly believe our human race can be bullied so easily?"

Among the 5 Human Emperors, the Black Abyss Emperor held the highest overall combat prowess, while this Western Pole Cave Void Sword Emperor reigned supreme in sheer killing capacity.

Among these individuals were the Emperor of Southern Extremity Brilliance, the Emperor of Central Heaven Purple Tenuity, and the Emperor of Eastern Extremity Azure Splendor—all sovereigns of the human race.

The majority were legendary Emperors whom Eldrin had never dealt with before. It was evident that the Human Clan had come thoroughly prepared—aside from a few secluded Primordial Chaos Emperors, over half had already arrived to lend their support.

Just as the 2 were conversing, the Voice of the Great Dao resonated from beyond the heavens.

"Is that so?"...

There were also powerful human Emperors familiar to Eldrin (Person Name), such as the Emperor of the Abyssal Silence, the Emperor of the Eternal Frost, and the Emperor of the Central Heaven.

"All irrelevant parties, disperse at once!"

The very moment he stepped out of the Chaos Heaven, Eldrin’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked up toward the boundless firmament above.

"Hmph—"

The Pure Yang Great Emperor approached with calm strides, his expression serene as he spoke, "The Heavenly Emperor's decree cannot be defied."

Eldrin had anticipated this outcome. Although the human race and the divine race were allies, there remained an inevitable gap between them—a disparity in their inherent levels of existence.

Within the divine race, unity was far from absolute. Not all Primordial Emperors held favorable inclinations toward the human race, let alone engaging in battle with the demonic tribes for the sake of Eldrin (Person Name).

"Stay close to me later. If the situation turns sour, follow my lead as we fight our way out."

"Hmph."

"By whose decree?"

The Black Abyss Emperor did not strike immediately. Instead, he turned to Eldrin behind him and said, "The demonic tribes grow ever more powerful. Should the divine races withhold their full strength, I fear even we cannot guarantee your protection."

He stood there as if an eternal, peerless immortal sword, radiating an undying sword intent that transcended the ages.

As the words fell, the Sword Emperor of the Void Abyss immediately took action. The boundless sword aura in his hand shook the heavens as he charged toward the assembly of demon elites.

At the very moment the Void-Severing Sword Emperor appeared, ripples began to spread across the void.

Eldrin turned to look, only to find several dozen peerless emperors tearing through the heavens as they approached.

However, in this battle, the Divine Race had only dispatched 2 Divine Emperors—Emperor Taicang and Emperor Taixu. As for the Primordial Chaos Emperors at the Divine King level, merely 7 or 8 had arrived.

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, his eyes shimmering with profound gravity.

"Black Abyss, are you truly seeking your own demise?"

After the human Emperors had taken their positions, Sword Emperor Dongxu finally spoke with icy detachment, "As established Emperors, to jointly assault a newly ascended sovereign—such conduct is truly beneath your station."

Taking into account that many Imperial Lords were in seclusion or outside the Primordial Immortal Realm, the attendance of over 30 Imperial Lords this time was likely a significant acknowledgment of Lyra (Person Name) and the Grand Cang Imperial Lord’s standing.

However, no matter what, after discovering that only 2 Emperors had come from the Divine Clan, Emperor Heiyuan understood that this place could no longer be lingered in.

He took a deep breath and grabbed Eldrin by the arm, saying, "Follow me—we fight our way out."

As the words faded, the Black Abyss Emperor immediately grabbed Eldrin (Person Name) and charged toward Black Abyss Heaven, intending to use its Celestial Court Grand Formation to hold off the crowd.

But in that very instant, a searing pillar of fire pierced through the heavens, descending to suppress them both.

The Black Abyss Emperor defended with all his might, forced back several steps in succession before he could finally lift his gaze to the front.

At the far end of the heavens, a carriage engraved with phoenix patterns stood poised. Behind the layers of fluttering curtains, a figure of peerless elegance seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

Vermilion Bird Paragon!

The Black Abyss Emperor’s heart sank, his expression turning incomparably solemn as he said, “Your Excellency, as a distinguished Demi-Saint, would actually stoop to attacking a mere junior?”

Behind the curtain, a peerless figure sat in serene meditation.

He gazed upon the Emperor of the Abyss, like a primordial Divine Sovereign overlooking all realms. Merely by sitting there, He had compelled the 3 1000 great Daos to bow in submission.

He did not utter a word, yet his silence itself was an invisible pressure, crushing to the extreme.

The Black Abyss Emperor’s expression turned icy as he noticed more and more demonic emperors breaking through the blockade and closing in. Finally, he could no longer hold back and spoke coldly, “How dare you act so recklessly? Do you truly believe the Great Abyss Immortal Sage would stand by and do nothing?”

"You think..." The Eldrin Sub-saint finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion as it carried across the distance, "that the Abyssal Zenith Immortal Sovereign is still capable of taking action?"

"Bzzz—"

In that very instant, formless ripples emanated from the depths of the boundless chaos.

Everyone looked up and saw 2 indistinct figures confronting each other within the boundless chaos.

They are the masters of the Great Dao, the sovereigns of the vast primordial chaos. Merely standing in opposition to 1 another, their intangible emanating auras have already carved out the myriad heavens and worlds, tearing asunder the endless fabric of time and space.

Unseeable, unlookable upon, only overwhelming chaotic qi veiled all, transforming into layer upon layer of ripples that swept through the myriad heavens.

Emperor Candle Dragon, Immortal Sage of the Abyssal Realm.

Eldrin murmured under his breath, a trace of solemnity flickering in his gaze.

In that moment, he understood in his heart: the Primordial Abyss Immortal Sage had been driven into the chaotic depths by the Candle Dragon Celestial Emperor, and could no longer intervene in the present battlefield.

"This is troublesome."

Eldrin’s heart sank slightly as he glanced at the Black Abyss Emperor. He noticed the emperor tightening his grip on the Black Abyss Emperor Spear before giving him a meaningful look.

Eldrin understood—it was telling him to flee to the Chaotic Abyssal Sea on his own.

"Hah—"

Upon the Phoenix Chariot, behind the layered curtains, a trace of serene indifference surfaced on the face of the Sublime Sage Zhuque.

He looked at Eldrin and declared with unwavering authority, "Come with me to the Solar Golden Pagoda."

As the words fell, the Vermilion Bird Demi-Saint instantly made his move, manifesting a colossal palm that blotted out the heavens as it descended to suppress its target.

Boom—

But at that very moment, a sky-rending sound tore through the void.

An ancient furnace that blotted out the heavens soared into the sky, blocking the Vermilion Bird Sub-Sage’s full-force strike.

Eldrin looked up and saw an elder robed in purple appear high in the void.

The elder beamed with a smile as he gazed at the Scarlet Sparrow Sub-Sage. "Fellow Daoist Scarlet Sparrow, why trouble a junior so?"

Kirin Furnace, Ancestral Kirin Elder.

Vermilion Bird Sub-Sage’s pupils contracted slightly, his expression icy as he spoke, “Do you also wish to interfere in this matter?”

The Kirin Elder spoke, his demeanor perpetually nonchalant: "This matter is 1 I truly wish to intervene in."

"Then let our skills decide the truth."

As the words fell, the Vermilion Bird Demi-Saint immediately took action, manifesting the Vermilion Heaven Li Fire Sword to suppress the target from above.

This was the Zhutian Li Fire Sword, the innate supreme treasure bound to the life essence of the Eldrin Sub-Sage. Ranked third among the 10 Great Immortal Swords across the 3 1000 Immortal Domains, its might rivaled even that of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

At this moment, the Eldrin of the Quasi-Sage Realm personally intervened, unleashing a power capable of annihilating all existence.

The Qilin Ancestor remained unmoved. With a mere activation of the Qilin Furnace in his hand, he effortlessly deflected the Vermilion Bird Demi-Saint’s lethal assault. His expression serene, he spoke calmly:

"Today, I shall make you understand that even as fellow Demi-Saints, a chasm still lies between us."

As the words faded, 9 divine forms of the Great Dao materialized behind the Kirin Elder's head, swiftly suppressing the Vermilion Heaven Li Fire Sword until it could no longer move.

Seeing this, the Vermilion Bird Demi-Saint felt a slight tremor in his heart.

The Kirin Ancestor was originally the Heaven-ordained Chaos God Emperor. Had the Sun Heavenly Emperor not stolen his Primordial Chaos Qi, he would have long since ascended to the realm of Chaos God Emperor....

Such a figure, having mastered a Great Dao imbued with 9 divine manifestations, far surpassed ordinary Paragons in power. At the same cultivation level, they could even contend against 2 opponents simultaneously.

At this moment, facing the Kirin Ancestor’s full-force assault, the Vermilion Bird Demi-Saint could no longer restrain herself.

His expression shifted slightly before he spoke: "Elder Qingwu (Person Name), lend me your aid at once!"

Boom—

As the words of the Phoenix Sub-Sage faded, a divine radiance that illuminated the world pierced through.

But at the horizon of the void, a figure clad in cyan-gold battle armor charged forth, radiating divine brilliance that shook the heavens as it descended upon the Ancestral Qilin.

Great Ancient Emperor of the Celestial Crow.

"2 Demi-Sages have joined the fray. It seems the demon race means business. Follow me, we break through now!"

The Black Abyss Emperor's expression shifted slightly, then he grasped Eldrin (Person Name) and departed immediately.

"Not so fast."

Meanwhile, another earth-shattering crack echoed from the void above.

But there, at the heart of the heavens, a Kunpeng larger than the celestial realm itself came swooping down, seeking to devour Eldrin in a single gulp.

Kunpeng Paragon.

Eldrin's heart sank. Just as he resolved to shatter the void and escape at all costs—even if it meant exposing the Abyssal Pearl—a majestic figure tore through the firmament, rending the heavens asunder.

He gripped the Celestial Annihilation War Halberd, descending like an ancient god-king shattering the heavens, and with a single strike sent the Roc Demon Saint hurtling through the air.

Heaven-Waste Quasi-Emperor.

Eldrin's heart trembled as he recognized the identity of this person.

Though the demon race was formidable and the alliance between humans and the Eldrin (Race) to resist them was established policy, the fact that the Eldrin would go to such lengths still placed him in their debt no small favor.

That day, the Quasi-Emperor of Heavenly Wasteland and the Sub-Sage of Kunpeng erupted into a world-shaking battle. Before departing, he cast a glance at Eldrin and said, "Young friend, remember the favor owed today."

Go—

Just as Eldrin was stunned, Emperor Heiyuan grabbed him and forcefully fought their way out of the siege by several Monster Race Emperors.

They fought their way out of the Primordial Immortal Realm, finally shaking off the demonic tribes' pursuit for the time being.

But in that very instant, waves of world-shattering power once again surged from the chaos.

Eldrin and the Black Abyss Emperor resisted with their full strength, yet they saw over 20 monarchs at the Emperor Realm level encircling them, intent on completely annihilating Eldrin.

"People from the other Primordial Domains."

"The demon race has gone mad! How could they summon foreign enemies from beyond our realm?"

After a brief clash, Eldrin recognized the origins of these individuals and was utterly astounded.

You must understand, this was within the perimeter of the 3 1000 Immortal Domains Grand Formation. Even during peacetime, 1 couldn’t simply enter as they pleased—even an existence at the level of an Emperor had to register before gaining access.

How could these experts at the Mixed Origin Emperor realm have reached this place without the demon clan secretly allowing them passage?

"Back then, the Sun Celestial Emperor dared to ambush the mighty of the Primordial Divine Court—what wouldn’t they stoop to now?"

The Black Abyss Emperor spoke, his expression icy as he gazed upon the crowd before him.

This group of powerful beings from other races were all peerless Chaos Origin Emperors, among them were even 4 existences at the Great Emperor level.

Among these 4 individuals, 3 were arch-nemeses on Eldrin's path to the Great Dao: the Dark Abyss Emperor of the Nether Clan, the Azure Zenith Emperor from the Primordial Demon Domain, and the Primal Desolation Emperor hailing from the Chaotic Cosmic Expanse.

The last person was none other than the Heavenly Derivation Sacred Emperor from the Primordial Domain of Sacred Demons, a name Eldrin had long heard whispered in reverence.

"The demon tribe could arrive at any moment. We cannot linger here. You must stay close to me."...

Seeing that the demonic tribes from behind had already chased them out of the Primordial Immortal Domain, the Black Abyss Emperor was unwilling to linger for even a moment longer.

Clad in the Thunder Emperor's Battle Attire, he brandished the Abyssal Emperor's Spear as he charged forward, his invincible divine might tearing through the Chaos Sea.

The Black Abyss Emperor truly lived up to his reputation as a peerless sovereign who had cultivated the 6 Paths True Spirit Manifestation. At this moment, with the 6 divine forms materialized, he stood unwavering even against 4 other emperors, carving out a path to the heavens through sheer force.

After fighting his way through 3,000 immortal domains, Eldrin suddenly perceived 2 silhouettes locked in confrontation beyond the celestial realms.

"That is the Primordial Spirit Emperor, and the Heaven Prison Demi-Saint from the Primeval Demonic Domain."

The Black Abyss Emperor spoke, his expression grave as he said, "It seems the demon race has even enlisted the aid of this Demi-Saint. Fortunately, the Primordial Spirit Emperor intercepted them."

At this point, Emperor Black Abyss spoke, "As the paramount powerhouse among the 100 Races of Immortal Spirits, the Primeval Spirit Sovereign and the Primordial Qilin were closest allies. It was only natural they would join forces."

"However, you must keep this kindness in your heart."

"I understand."

Eldrin nodded, his expression grave as he spoke.

As the 2 conversed, they continued fleeing toward the Chaotic Abyssal Sea.

Yet the means at the enemy's disposal were far too numerous. These Great Emperors had even brought along innate treasures imbued with spatial attributes, and before long, they closed in once more.

Eldrin's heart grew heavy with grim realization. Not only had Emperor Tianyan and 3 other great emperors arrived, but even the Ancient Thunder Crow Emperor, Emperor Bifang, and Emperor Chunyang—3 more sovereigns—had now caught up.

"You won't be leaving."

Then, as the Heavenly Derivation Saint Emperor spoke, he instantly summoned his innate supreme treasure, the ‘Heavenly Derivation Disk’, which manifested boundless array patterns to seal the heavens and earth.

And from all directions of the void, 1 sovereign after another had already closed in to strike.

"You're truly relentless."

The Black Abyss Emperor couldn't help but let out a soft sigh at this sight.

He patted Eldrin on the shoulder and said, "I'll cover the rear. You head to the Chaotic Abyssal Sea."

"Remember, no matter what happens, do not look back."

"None of you shall leave."

Pure Yang Emperor spoke, summoning the Primordial Chaos Treasure—the Pure Yang Immortal Lantern.

In an instant, a deluge of Pure Yang Immortal Fire swept down, seeking to completely seal off all escape routes for the 2.

The Great Emperor of the Primordial Thunder Crow took action, maneuvering a Void Gourd at the level of an Innate Supreme Treasure to soar into the sky, completely sealing off this expanse of the Chaotic Sea.

Eldrin’s heart sank. Even if the Black Abyss Emperor could be hailed as a peerless sovereign, capable of holding his own against 5 opponents of the same realm, facing the siege of 7 such emperors would leave him hard-pressed to stand alone.

After all, these 7 Great Emperors were far from weak. Especially Emperors like Pure Yang, Primordial Thunder Crow, and Heaven's Calculus—each wielded a Primordial Chaos Treasure, enabling them to hold their own against 2 or even 3 opponents at once.

Moreover, with the triple blockade of innate supreme treasures—the Heaven's Derivation Disk, the Void Treasure Gourd, and the Pure Yang Immortal Lantern—along with 7 Great Emperors watching closely like tigers eyeing their prey, even several Great Emperors would find it nearly impossible to escape this inescapable trap.

As his thoughts wavered, Eldrin once again contemplated activating the Abyssal Pearl.

However, once the Abyssal Pearl was activated, the discerning eyes of the various Great Emperors would surely detect its peculiarities. In that event, Eldrin would likely face pursuit from the Chaos Celestial Emperor, causing a flicker of hesitation to stir within him.

Go—

Just as Eldrin was wavering in his heart, the Black Abyss Emperor spoke again, the 6 divine forms behind him piercing through the heavens.

In that instant, he gathered his peerless true power and, enduring strikes from several Great Emperors, forcefully maneuvered the Black Abyss Emperor Spear in a piercing thrust.

In an instant, the Black Abyss Emperor Spear expanded to a span of hundreds of millions of light-years, forcibly piercing through the Heaven’s Calculation Plate’s manifested Sealing Heaven Array patterns, the Void Treasure Gourd’s spatial blockade, and even the overwhelming pure yang flames of the Pure Yang Immortal Lamp, transforming into a bridge that reached the heavens.

As the price, he abandoned all defense, channeling all his strength into the Black Abyss Emperor Spear and sustaining grievous wounds.

Great Emperor.

Eldrin's heart quaked violently within him, his every instinct screaming to aid the Black Abyss Emperor in weathering the blow.

But the Black Abyss Emperor grabbed him and flung him onto the Black Abyss Emperor Spear, roaring decisively, "Go!"

"Do not look back!"

Eldrin’s heart trembled. He cast a deep glance at the Black Abyss Emperor, then turned and fled beyond the grand formation along the Black Abyss Emperor Spear without looking back.

Under the protection of the Black Abyss Emperor Spear, even the Pure Yang Immortal Flame, the Heaven's Evolution Grand Formation, and even the power of the void could do nothing to Eldrin.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the 1000-zhang abyss. "Just a bit more," he muttered to himself, his breath forming pale plumes in the chill air. "The 7 Celestial Peaks Herb must be nearby." His spiritual sense stretched outward, brushing against the faint energy signatures woven through the mountain's essence. After 3 days and nights of arduous climbing, his Qi reserves had dwindled to a dangerous low. He could feel the emptiness in his dantian, a hollow ache that gnawed at his concentration. Suddenly, a faint golden glow caught his eye from a crevice just above. His heart leaped. There, nestled amidst the hardy mountain moss, grew a single stalk of the legendary herb, its 7 petals shimmering with captured moonlight. But as his fingers stretched toward the prize, a low growl rumbled through the rock beneath him. From the shadows of an adjacent cave, 2 points of crimson light ignited. A massive beast emerged, its fur the color of midnight, with 3 serpentine tails lashing against the stone. The 3-Tailed Shadow Panther bared fangs that dripped with corrosive saliva. Lin Chen's mind raced. In his current state, a direct confrontation was suicide. His hand instinctively went to the worn storage pouch at his belt. Only 3 Low-Grade Spirit Stones remained, and a single Qi Restoration Pill. Hardly enough for a sustained fight. The beast lunged, a blur of darkness and malice. Lin Chen dropped low, the Panther's claws screeching against the rock where his head had been. He rolled, coming up with the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss already in hand. The blade, a dull crimson, hummed faintly. "Looks like it's you and me," he whispered to the sword. He poured the dregs of his Qi into the blade. A weak flicker of flame sputtered along its edge. It was a pitiful display, but it was all he had. The Panther circled, intelligent eyes assessing this fool who dared challenge its territory. It pounced again. This time, Lin Chen was ready. He didn't meet the charge head-on. Instead, he sidestepped, his movements relying on the foundational Cloud-Stepping Treads technique he had practiced 10 1000 times. The Panther sailed past him, its momentum carrying it perilously close to the cliff's edge. As it scrambled for purchase, Lin Chen saw his opening. He didn't strike at its heavily muscled body, but at the rock beneath its rear paws. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss bit deep into the stone. With a final, desperate surge of Qi, he channeled all his remaining strength into the blade. *Crack!* A section of the ledge, already weakened by the beast's weight, sheared away. The 3-Tailed Shadow Panther let out a roar of surprise and fury as it plummeted into the cloud sea, its cries quickly swallowed by the vastness. Lin Chen slumped against the remaining rock, his chest heaving. Sweat and grime coated his skin. He had won, not through overwhelming power, but through wit and a sliver of luck. He carefully plucked the 7 Celestial Peaks Herb, its potent energy soothing his frayed nerves even through the brief contact. Storing the precious herb, he glanced at the empty abyss. This world of cultivation was merciless. A moment's hesitation, a slight miscalculation, and it would have been him falling into that endless white. He took a deep breath, the thin, cold air filling his lungs. He had survived. For now. And he had the herb. It was a start. Swallowing the lone Qi Restoration Pill, he felt a trickle of warmth return to his core. It was time to find a place to rest, to recover, and to prepare for the next trial this unforgiving mountain had in store.